MLB: ***Official Cubs Offseason Thread***

CYdTracked

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Figured it was about that time of the offseason for Boras to whine about teams not spending he still has unsigned clients: http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/22211447/scott-boras-mlb-cure-noncompetitive-cancer This coming from a guy who has made a living off of running up the prices on his clients that many of those contract wound up hurting teams payroll flexibility in the long term in the later years of those contracts. Why overpay for a guy in his 30's that will be on the decline in the last years of that contract when you can have younger cost controlled players coming into their prime years by the time you have to make a decision on committing long term dollars to them.
 

FerShizzle

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Figured it was about that time of the offseason for Boras to whine about teams not spending he still has unsigned clients: http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/22211447/scott-boras-mlb-cure-noncompetitive-cancer This coming from a guy who has made a living off of running up the prices on his clients that many of those contract wound up hurting teams payroll flexibility in the long term in the later years of those contracts. Why overpay for a guy in his 30's that will be on the decline in the last years of that contract when you can have younger cost controlled players coming into their prime years by the time you have to make a decision on committing long term dollars to them.

I saw this. Most GMs in baseball hate Boras. My gut is telling me that several GMs at high dollar markets have made a decision to not deal with Boras, at least not for his top shelf players.

If he can’t sign players to ridiculous contracts, then he is no different than any other agent and will lose clients. Capitalism at work.
 
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CloneFan4

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I saw this. Most GMs in baseball hate Boras. My gut is telling me that several GMs at high dollar markets have made a decision to not deal with Boras, at least not for his top shelf players.

If he can’t sign players to ridiculous contracts, than he is no different than any other agent and will lose clients. Capitalism at work.

Baseball should give communism a shot. Its never been given a fair chance.
 

CYdTracked

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Just look at those guys mentioned that are his remaining top free agents. Almost all have some risk or concerns with them.

Arietta - love what he did with the Cubs and I'd like to have him back on a reasonable 3 or 4 year deal as I think it's best for both parties knowing the struggles he had with control before coming to the Cubs plus his velocity went down last season. He turns 32 this year so there is question how much longer can he perform at a high level to justify paying him like an ace.

Martinez - right in his prime at age 30 coming off a career year, I think the Red Sox will eventually pay him but Boras is probably pricing him too high for him to still be available. He probably carries the least amount of risk than any guy on that list

Hosmer - just 28 but 1B is a place a lot of teams are already set at and he's never hit more than 25 HR in a season yet which 1B is a position most associate as a power hitting positon. He tied for 18th amongst all 1B for HR last season, will be interesting to see where he winds up and for how long of a deal.

Moustakas - 29 years old coming off a career year of 38 HR 85 RBI. Not exactly a top end 3B though with just a 1.8 WAR which ranks him 22 amongst all MLB 3B last season.

Holland - 32 year old closer, he missed all of 2016 after having Tommy John surgery. He had a good start to 2017 but if you look at his pre and post all star break splits he had a horrible 2nd half of the season and it carried into the postseason as well so have to wonder about his durability plus his velocity was down last year too. Boras probably values him as a high end closer, he probably will have to settle for a 1 or 2 year deal at far less than what Boras values him at. Just did a google search on him and 2 of the first links that popped up were articles why the Nationals or Rockies should avoid signing him so the fact he's still available says a lot about how multiple teams are valuing him at right now
 

Cardinal and Gold

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Cain is good, but yikes that is a massive overpayment for him, IMO.
Brewers payroll is still only like 75 mil. But wish we didn’t have to do a 5 year deal for him. That goes til he’s 37. Looking more like a Cubs and Brewers race for the central.
 

FerShizzle

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So much for this five+ years of dominating baseball with our young core. Competition has certainly been bumped up a couple of levels.
If that core plays like they are capable, then they should be dominant. But last year, almost everyone of them experienced a long-term slump. Whether you want to call it a sophomore slump or World Series hang-over is up to you, but simply having some of these core guys return to what they were in 2016 would be as big of a deal as any free agent signing.
 

Clonefan32

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Yeah Im not overly worried at this point. However, the Cubs need to get another starter. I still want Jake back...

If they are going to pay up for Darvish I'd just as soon see that money go towards Jake. I know Jake will command more, but I'm much more confident in him than Darvish. I also think there is quite a bit of value in keeping the core guys together, as they appear to have real good chemistry.
 

chuckd4735

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If they are going to pay up for Darvish I'd just as soon see that money go towards Jake. I know Jake will command more, but I'm much more confident in him than Darvish. I also think there is quite a bit of value in keeping the core guys together, as they appear to have real good chemistry.

This is exactly my thought. Im not against Darvish at all, but hes probably my second choice.
 

CyForPresident

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So much for this five+ years of dominating baseball with our young core. Competition has certainly been bumped up a couple of levels.

The cubs have made 3 straight NLCS and won a world series. They're fine.

I'm also kind of excited to see everyone healthy and refreshed, like Zobrist. He's on record saying he currently feels the best he has in 5 years. A lot of these guys, including Zobrist, have played a lot of extra, post-season baseball the past few years.
 

CYdTracked

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Cubs need to sign 1 of them either way. Need another starter in the rotation and as it stands now who would be #5 if there was an injury? Having Montgomery as the long man and spot starter is more ideal for now